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Shades of Grey	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Threesomes/Moresomes Views: 103925 -:- Recommendations : 6 -:- Currently Reading : 21
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter nor do I make any money off this dance in the realm of strangeness and smut

Chapter List
- 16
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Chapter 17

Beta'd by the amazing Tenchi. You're the best, woman, and thank you!

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Standing in what would be called Lucius' study, Severus was by the desk, arms folded over his chest, looking at the floor, waiting for the storm of hellfire he was certain was coming. At this very moment Harry, Lucius and, as strange as it sounded, Kaliya had their faces in the Pensive on the desk looking at the memory of the talk with Albus. Really, he hadn't known how to impart this to either of them so he decided this was the most prudent. It would get everything across at once then he could deal with what was coming. Lucius, he knew, would be fine. Oh, he would be angry, there was no doubt there, but he would stay rational. Potter-- there was no chance. The boy was going to blow. He just didn't know how he would do it was all. That had him wary. Kaliya--well, he had no clue about the snake. Nor was he the most pressing of the trio at the moment.

After what seemed like an eternity, Lucius pulled his face out of the bowl. One glance was enough to tell the man was furious. Though pale, his complexion was mottled with red splotches, telling of his ire. When the elder Malfoy glanced at him, Severus could easily read the pure fury in his eyes. With a barely perceptible sigh, Severus just looked at him and shrugged helplessly. What did one say about a memory such as that? He didn't know because he was feeling about the same way. Though his temper had cooled slightly after the visit to Lily, he wasn't exactly what one would term calm on the topic. Now, well, they had to wait for Harry.

Looking at the desk, he saw Harry and the snake pull their heads out of the bowl, stiffening up. Over his time in Hogwarts, he'd seen the young man mad before, several times. Never had he seen an expression like the one he was now wearing. There was anger, no doubt. In fact, it went beyond anger. There was more, though. Hurt, betrayal, looking like the rug had been pulled out from under him and other things warring with the rage that was there. Glancing at Lucius, he then looked back at Harry before saying, trying to keep his tone calm, “Harry, don't do anything foolish. I have some calming draughts. Take one then we'll sit down and discuss this. We don't need you rushing off and doing something impulsive.”

Shaking his head, the blood rushing in his ears, Harry hissed, “No, I don't want to talk about this right now.” All he knew was his world had been turned upside down. He had known Dumbledore was up to something involving him, he just didn't imagine it would mean planning his death. “Just-- I need to get out of here.”

Knowing this was a really bad sign, Lucius nudged Severus and had him hand over one of the vials of calming draught, then told him softly, “Harry, just take this then we'll talk. Doing something rash won't assist anything.”

Backing away, Harry shook his head, looking down at the floor. “No, I-- no talking right now. I can't. Just-- let me get my broom and go to the Quidditch pitch for a while. Then I'll talk. I just can't now.”

“That's fine,” Lucius soothed, holding out the vial. “Take this and I'll have one of the elves grab your broom. Flying will help clear your head.”

Eyeing the cobra that appeared to be just as agitated as the young man was, Severus said, trying to keep his voice calm, “I agree; spending time in the air will help. Take the calming draught and go. However, take Kaliya with you. I don't mean to fly, just to the pitch. Talking to him might help. In an hour or so we'll come out to join you.”

Rubbing his eyes, feeling his temples pound, Harry gritted his teeth and nodded, holding out his hand for the vial. Right now, he wasn't sure what to think or do but being in the air always helped. Nor did he think it was a good idea to leave the snake with the two since they couldn't understand him. Kaliya was enraged, hissing all kinds of dire threats. No, it was better if the snake was with him.

Eye on the snake, Lucius passed the vial to Harry then, quickly, had an elf bring the young man's broom. Giving it over to Harry, he said, tone soft, “You know where the pitch is, as I showed you this morning. We won't come out for an hour. Just give me your word you won't go off and do something foolish.”

“I won't,” Harry said through gritted teeth. Downing the draught, though he doubted anything would help calm him down right now, he clutched the vial. Taking the broom from the elf, he turned to walk out. Passing the fireplace, he threw the vial into it, relishing in hearing it shatter. However, that didn't even start to take down the level his temper was at. Shaking in rage, he stalked out then headed straight for the pitch, not even trying to calm down the snake that was just as angry as he was.

Watching the young man go and waiting until he heard the front door slam hard enough he was surprised it hadn't broken, Lucius then summoned one of his elves and gave him instructions to keep an eye on the boy. He didn't think Harry would rush off right now, but anything could happen when you were that angry. Once the elf popped out, Lucius walked over to the drinks cabinet then poured himself a shot of firewhiskey. Downing it, he then filled it again and sipped it before pouring one for Severus. After handing it over to the other man, Lucius flopped in his chair and rubbed his eyes. When done, he opened them and stared at the Pensive before saying, “Even I, in all the times I tried to figure out what that old goat was up to, never once thought what he could be planning was to sacrifice Harry. I figured there was something about them facing one another. To send him to his death and count on the fact he probably wouldn't die? No! Would you like to explain to me how that isn't any worse than what the Dark Lord is planning, Severus?”

Taking a seat, looking dour, Severus sipped the whiskey then said, tone a river of pure acid, “It's not. Manipulating a young man that's had a horrible life into walking to his own death for the 'greater good' is no better than what the Dark Lord does. You can dress it up how you like, count on the fact that Harry would survive it and delude yourself every other way you can, but it's just as bad, if not worse because the young man in question trusts you to do what's right and looks up to you. I'm sure that part of it actually makes it worse in the long run.”

Glaring at the Pensive as though it were the being in question here, Lucius hissed, “What the hell is wrong with that man? Just because you feel you are smarter than most beings in the world doesn't give you the right to plan and manipulate a young man into walking to his own death! Nothing, no where, gives you that right. Harry is not a lamb you ship off to slaughter because of a prophecy!”

“You're right,” Severus told him, downing the last of the firewhiskey. “I'm sure by now that whole prophecy is more self-fulfilling than anything else. Between Dumbledore and the Dark Lord, they've made sure it'll come to pass, one way or another.” Sitting the glass on the desk, he leaned back and folded his arms over his chest and glared at the Pensive. “The question is now, though, what do we do? I know we've said Potter is out if he doesn't want to help. Honestly, with what I just heard, I don't want him helping unless it's a last resort. That could end up disastrous if we even try. Albus is bound and determined to find a way to track him, something I'm going to do my best to stop. However, I can safely tell you that I want no part of that man right now. Nor do I want to deal with him any longer than I have to. The realism though is if I'm not in the thick of things, we have no way of finding out what is going on with either end.” Raising his eyes, he looked at Lucius and said, honestly, “I don't know how much longer I can work with Albus in any way. One more bomb like the one today and I'm apt to do something foolish myself!”

Nodding, looking down, Lucius said, tone distracted, “I don't know, Severus. This is so much more complex than what we planned for. Not that I'm complaining, mind you, it's just-- I expected such things from the Dark Lord. Nothing coming from that direction surprises me. However, I never expected it from Dumbledore. I know quite well how Machiavellian he is. That figured into what we were working with. This, though-- in my wildest speculation I couldn't have dreamed something like this. Nor do I know how to work with it. If he is seriously planning for Harry to walk to his death, he's going to stop at nothing to get to him. That frightens me. The man, if nothing else, is persistent. He has ways of turning up spells that can do the strangest things. Nor do I know how we can protect Harry from him doing so. I think, honestly, it's time that we ponder recruiting one or two beings to help. Someone in the Order has to want to put Harry's best interests first, ahead of Dumbledore and what he wants. And I agree; we need to get you out. This-- much more of this kind of foolishness and you're apt to find yourself in Azkaban for hexing the goat!”

“I know,” Severus told him sourly. Rubbing a hand over his face, he said, shaking his head, “The Order has many beings in it but I can only think of two that would put Potter first. Neither are ones we would be able to deal with. Everyone else is more than willing to just go by the line of thought that Dumbledore knows what's best and let him lead the way so they follow like good little lemmings right off the cliff.”

“We don't have much of a choice, Severus! This-- you can't keep doing this. I know you well enough that I can foresee the end if more is thrown at you,” Lucius told him pointedly. “Who do you have in mind and we'll work from there to see what we might be able to come up with.”

“I will concede that I don't think there is much more of this form of happiness I can take. I'm stretched thin as it is,” Severus told him with a nod and sigh. “I will also admit to wanting out. However, the only two names that come to mind for me that might be beings we can work with is Lupin and Black. Those are the only two so far that seem to be willing to put Potter before what Albus wants. Working with those two, though, will be a nightmare. Even getting them to listen is something that probably won't happen. The minute Black hears we have Potter, he will explode and we'll be in trouble.”

“Oh, bloody hell,” Lucius moaned, rubbing his eyes. “That's-- there is no way to work with those two. Can't you think of anyone else?”

“No,” Severus said sourly, grimacing. “Everyone else is content to follow Albus down the path to hell and not question him. Very few are close enough to Albus to give us any kind of information we need. Most are just peripheral beings that help when needed, nothing more. There is also the suspicion about me that will work against most in trying to recruit them for anything.”

Resting his elbows on the desk, Lucius put his head in his hands and tried to think. After a couple minutes, he shook his head then told Severus, “Right now-- let's table this thought unless you can come up with something workable. Black and Lupin, from what I see, aren't an option to even attempt anything with. All that would end up happening is you and I being hexed to the point there is no correcting it then be tossed into Azkaban for kidnapping. After that, we might as well commit suicide because the Dark Lord would make it to where we would rather be dead.”

“I agree,” Severus sighed.

Shaking his head again, Lucius leaned back then rubbed his eyes. “This is a nightmarish situation. Harry, though, is staying right here. I'll not be responsible for sending him to death by returning him to Dumbledore or putting him somewhere the old goat might be able to find him.”

“Potter stays with us,” Severus said firmly. “We will protect him the best we can from everything. Let Britain tear itself apart with this war, I don't care, he's not being pulled into it by anyone. Lily only wanted her son to be happy and I'm damned sure going to try that after the life he's had.”

“I agree,” Lucius said. “If it means we stay out of this war, so be it; we're out. Shan't turn my nose up if we don't have any more to do with it.”

Nodding, Severus said nothing, looking down at the floor, an idea starting to form. Shaking his head, he said, distracted, “Let me think on the situation overnight. I might have some kind of inkling about what we can do. I just need time is all. For now, let it just brew a while then I'll share it.”

Nodding, liking the sound of that, Lucius said, “Take your time. We do have to worry, of course, especially if Dumbledore is looking for tracking spells, but we should be secure here.”

“Let's go check on Potter. I don't think we're going to get anywhere with this tonight, beyond what we have. He is a concern though. I'd rather know what's going on with him than sit here and do nothing,” Severus told him, looking up.

“I agree,” Lucius said, standing.

Walking out to the pitch, both men scanned the sky but didn't see Harry. That was troublesome. It had been about an hour and both fully expected the young man to be in the air still. There would be dangerous stunts, no doubt, but nothing foolish.

Looking around, still not seeing Harry, Lucius summoned the elf he assigned to watch him. The creature immediately popped up then, and when asked, said Harry was sitting in the stands with Kaliya, not doing anything. Relieved, both mean climbed into the small stands that were there. Quickly, they spotted Harry. He was seated not on one of the comfortable seats, but on the walkway right before the railing, leaning back against it. Knees bent, he had his face buried in his arms that were folded over them, broom lying beside him. Kaliya was wrapped around his shoulders, hissing softly into the young man's ear.

Walking over, Lucius cast a cushioning charm on the ground beside Harry and seated himself there. Severus took a seat on one of the comfortable benches before the young man. After a shared glance, Lucius asked, quietly, “Do you feel any better, Harry?” Though it was a foolish question, one he knew the answer to, Lucius was at a loss as to how to start the conversation beyond that so he went with it.

“No,” Harry told him, voice muffled by the position he was in.

As the father of a teenage boy, Lucius was quite used to dealing with the angst and temper that sometimes came from them. Severus, because he taught in a school full of teens, was as well. Both of them were at a loss as to what to do this time, though. Neither could think of anything to say to him.

After a shared look, Severus asked, as gently as someone like he could, “Do you care to discuss it, Harry? Or would you rather wait.”

“I don't see where there is anything to discuss about it,” Harry said, head finally coming up. The rage he had dealt with before walking out of the study was gone. It was now replaced with a feeling of hopelessness and despair that he didn't know how to deal with. All along, though knowing there was some planning and plotting going on when it came to him, something he didn't think he would like, he couldn't even fathom that Dumbledore would be planning for him to die. That-- he didn't even consider it.

Not liking the sound of that, Lucius asked calmly, “What do you mean?”

“What do you say about something like that? I don't know! I mean, here is someone I trusted and they are planning to make sure I die. I keep hearing to let the adults worry about Lord Loony Toons, that he's their problem to deal with. Turns out it's not; that Dumbledore is going to make sure he's my problem and that I get to die when I face him. Of course he probably doesn't see it that way because he's sure that I'm the next coming of something or other and I won't really die but you know--” Trailing off, he gritted his teeth and shut his eyes, leaning his head back. Trying to focus on Kaliya, and the hissing he was doing, something the snake told him was the serpent equivalent of a lullaby that was soothing, he couldn't quite manage.

Shaking his head, Lucius told the young man, “I don't know what to say to that as you're right. What I can say is this; at least you know and won't be manipulated into walking into that plot. Nor will you even be involved. Severus and I, both, feel that even if you wish to help end this, we don't want you to. You are out. We are out for the most part. Neither of us want any part of this nightmarish mess.”

Giving a snort and rubbing his eyes, Harry shook his head, “Dumbledore isn't going to allow that to happen and you know it. He's going to do everything in his power to find me.”

“He will try but won't succeed,” Severus told him firmly. “We won't allow that to happen. You are staying here and we'll protect you. Right now, I’ll be keeping an eye on what's going on and throw a spanner into anything Dumbledore tries to do. Lucius, I’m certain, can ensure there are wards up to throw off any tracking spell. If we have to toss red herrings about you all over Britain to send both sides on a wild goose chase, we will. You're safe and out. All there is to it.”

Nodding, Harry said nothing. His thoughts were so riotous that he doubted he could focus on anything anyway. It was like his eyes had been opened to the real world for the first time and he didn't like the vision he was getting of it. With a sigh, he rubbed Kaliya's head, more as something to do than anything else. When he felt the snake shift and coil around his body, he stroked his back softly.

“Though this might not be the life you would have envisioned, Harry, we're going to try to make it pleasant. At least during your stay. As we have no way of knowing how long this will drag on, it may be a while before you can leave, but you have my word that we'll make it as pleasant as possible,” Lucius told him. “I'm certain we can find plenty of mischief to get into as time goes on or do things pleasing to all of us that makes it go easier.”

Saying nothing, Harry nodded again, looking down. After several minutes, he said, voice quiet, “At least I know. I think I'm glad about that. I don't know though.”

“If I thought sparing you knowing what was really being planned when it came to you would have been better in the long run, I wouldn't have let you watch that memory. I didn't think that was the case,” Severus explained. “I knew your reaction wouldn't be good but I thought it prudent for you to know. There is also the fact that I didn't want you to feel I'm hiding such things from you. I can honestly say there was a lot of serious debate with myself as to whether or not to show you that memory. In the end, I thought it best to let you see it so you knew what was going on.”

Looking at Snape, Harry nodded slowly, understanding. Rubbing his eyes, he just shrugged, not sure what to say about it. After a couple minutes of silence, he said, tone soft, “Is it me or do you find it ironic that the two people that hated then kidnapped me to end this mess are the ones that are as appalled by the whole nightmare as I am? I mean, really, who is the good side in this whole effing mess?”

“I can safely speak for Severus when I say the irony of the situation is not lost on us,” Lucius replied with a sigh. “As for the 'good side'? I don't think there is one, Harry. I think this is nothing more than shades of grey to varying degrees. When the light side plots something that is no better than what the dark does, there is no black and white in it anymore. Dumbledore may not view it as such, but if it were laid out for most, they wouldn't see it that way.”

“Yeah, they would,” Harry snorted. “You forget that most just want to cower behind closed doors and do nothing. They don't even want to believe the truth when laid out for them if it's scary or makes them think that all isn't right with the world. They don't care about one person as long as they don't have to get involved or have their lives turned upside down by another war. That might inconvenience them, after all.” Stopping, he shook his head and muttered, “Sheeple, all of them.”

Having heard that term before, Severus snorted then nodded, “I do agree. It's a very apt description.”

“Would either of you like to explain to me why this society is worth saving if it's like this?” Harry asked.

“Because what would come if the Dark Lord rules would make this look like a fun fair,” Lucius said quietly.

Understanding that, Harry nodded, sighing. “There is that, yeah.”

Sensing that his young man was at least a little calmer, Kaliya rested his head on Harry's shoulder again then said, “Tell both them that before this whole debacle ends, I wish to have some time alone with this Dumbledore character to express my displeasure at his manipulations of you.”

Giving a snort, Harry shook his head but translated that then replied, “Yeah, well, I imagine your version of expressing displeasure involves venom and fangs. The Ministry would have you put down as a dangerous creature if you did that. I like having you around.”

“Be that as it may, someone, somewhere needs to impart to this Dumbledore that beings don't mess with the lives of others in such a way,” Kaliya huffed, tail twitching in an agitated way, tongue flicking.

After hearing the translation, Lucius gave an amused snort, “While I do like the idea, Harry is correct. No, we rather like you and won't let you endanger yourself.” Reaching out, Lucius stroked the back of the snake's head. Letting his hand drift back, Lucius put it on the back of Harry's head and let his thumb stroke the back of the young man's head a couple times. Gently, he said, “Let's go inside. I think a glass of wine and something to eat will do you good.”

Though not hungry, Harry nodded. Sitting out here wasn't doing anything but making him depressed.

Standing up with a groan, Lucius groused, “I'm too old to sit like that anymore. Come. Let's find something to eat then see what we can find for entertainment tonight. There has to be something to take our minds off this mess.”

Standing, Harry said nothing, just trailing along though he doubted that there was anything out there right now that would take his mind off this.

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Shades of Grey